AI Hydra 26 HD coverage
- Thread starter Ben A
- Start date
Chicagoreef2016
New member
Should be, I have a 26HD on my 60 cube (24x24x24). Why are you replacing your t5? A friend of mine was trying to get me to go from LED to T5s.
"Grass is Greener" syndrome I guess. I had LEDs years ago when they first really got popular and was not impressed astall with the coral growth. Halides seem to give the best growth but the corals all look meh without LED supplements. T5s seem to be a great middle ground between the look of LEDs and the growth of Halides, but its been years since Ive had LEDs as my main source of light and I'm wondering if its time to give them another try.
From what I've read , you should be OK. That said, I just bought 2 26HDs for my 60x18x20 , I'll be getting a third one... Im also running T5s with them for extra coverage and possible shading down the road. You might look at the 52 for better front to back coverage as well. Obviously it's all relative as far as what you plan to keep and their lighting needs.
Potatohead
New member
For LPS I would say it's likely fine. If you want to grow acropora, I would go with two 52's.
Hentz
New member
Keyword: years ago.
I'm running Hydra 26 HD's again. I ran 3 on my 36" SPS dominant tank with amazing success on my Acropora. Only went to my ATI 6x39 because my Internet was terrible in my house. Adding lots and lots of acropora, I really enjoyed using the Acclimation Mode the light and many others come with. Comes really handy!
That being said, I downgraded recently since I'm moving and went back to Hydra 26HD over my Reefer 170. What're my noticeable results so far from an ATI T5 to these LED's? Almost noting. I'm getting just as great of growth and color as I did with my T5.
The only main noticeable effect I have was the brightness of the tank. While my Hydra 26HD is producing the same results, it makes the tank look dimmer ONLY BECAUSE it's 2 pucks over a 24x20 tank and I'm running a mock Ecotech Marine SPS AB+ which makes it look quite dim. Where as obviously T5, you'll get that fully and bright look.
Now for coverage, this is all depending on what corals you're wanting. If you're planning more SPS, without a doubt I'd do 3 MINIMUM. If you're doing mixed softies and LPS, 2 would be fine. Though I feel you and your corals would be happiest with 3. Though 2 for the time being would be plenty sufficient!
These pictures were from my 36x18x19 tank where I ran two Hydra 26HD's and eventually adding a third.
Here's how it was before and after shots.
On the Teal acro, that was under T5's. Notice under Hydra 26 HD's it began developing a wild look pigment. Never got that before with T5.
Last edited:
Chicagoreef2016
New member
Keyword: years ago.
I'm running Hydra 26 HD's again. I ran 3 on my 36" SPS dominant tank with amazing success on my Acropora. Only went to my ATI 6x39 because my Internet was terrible in my house. Adding lots and lots of acropora, I really enjoyed using the Acclimation Mode the light and many others come with. Comes really handy!
That being said, I downgraded recently since I'm moving and went back to Hydra 26HD over my Reefer 170. What're my noticeable results so far from an ATI T5 to these LED's? Almost noting. I'm getting just as great of growth and color as I did with my T5.
The only main noticeable effect I have was the brightness of the tank. While my Hydra 26HD is producing the same results, it makes the tank look dimmer ONLY BECAUSE it's 2 pucks over a 24x20 tank and I'm running a mock Ecotech Marine SPS AB+ which makes it look quite dim. Where as obviously T5, you'll get that fully and bright look.
Now for coverage, this is all depending on what corals you're wanting. If you're planning more SPS, without a doubt I'd do 3 MINIMUM. If you're doing mixed softies and LPS, 2 would be fine. Though I feel you and your corals would be happiest with 3. Though 2 for the time being would be plenty sufficient!
These pictures were from my 36x18x19 tank where I ran two Hydra 26HD's and eventually adding a third.
Here's how it was before and after shots.
On the Teal acro, that was under T5's. Notice under Hydra 26 HD's it began developing a wild look pigment. Never got that before with T5.
Those are some great shots! If you don't mind what settings/percentages do you have your lights at? I am running mine at the below, with primarily softies and LPS.
Blue: 83%
RB: 83%
CW: 30%
Red: 10%
Green: 10%
UV: 20% (I think, going from memory)
Violet: 20% (Same, going from memory)
Hentz
New member
I couldn't tell ya!
What's your email? If you have the HD, I can send you the profile I ran for my previous tank.
Or I can give you the link to download the SPS AB+ profile which I'm using along with a few others with great success.
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